Associated School Boards of South Dakota

January31: Two bills take two different steps

House and Senate members took action on two bills with ties to K-12 education on Wednesday afternoon and yielded two different results. Senators unanimously passed Senate Bill 158 on to their legislative counterparts. The bill would provide state funding for students in treatment centers and clarifies the discrepancy that funding for the student in the

January30: Two positive bills for K-12 pass committee

Senate Education committee members passed two bills supported by ASBSD on Tuesday. Senate Bill 96 passed on a 6-0 vote with no opponent testimony. The bill would permit school districts with an enrollment under 100 to avoid consolidation if they are exercising joint powers or intergovernmental cooperation in education. Joint powers agreements allow any number of school districts in the

January30: Three bills deferred to 41st

Increased funding bill blocked House Bill 1201, which called for an increase to the per-student allocation dollar amount for the next three years, was deferred to the 41st Legislative Day on 9-4 by the House State Affairs committee. “The bill was in for a battle,” Pogany said. “Although it’s disappointing it was defeated, the committee acknowledged something needs to

January30: No changes to executive session

Members of the Senate Local Government committee voted down a bill that would have required executive and closed sessions of government bodies be recorded and records maintained for one year. Senate Bill 167 was deferred to the 41st Legislative day on 4-3 vote this morning (Wednesday). ASBSD opposed the bill. Executive Director Wade Pogany testified the bill was unnecessary and

January29: Bills pass to start week

Three bills passed their original house to start week number three of legislative session. Representatives passed House Bill 1108 by 63-5 vote on Monday. The open meeting’s related bill initially placed sub- and advisory committees under the open meetings umbrella, but was amended by the House State Affairs committee removing the requirement. The bill’s main function now is to exclude advisory bodies from

January29: K-12 gets committee focus tomorrow

Wednesday’s committee schedule marks a big day for legislation related to K-12 education. House State Affairs committee members will hear two bills that would improve upon the current K-12 education funding situation. House Bill 1201 calls for an increase to the per-student allocation dollar amount for the next three years to balance the “funding shortfalls” school

January29: “Sentinel” bill passed, Open Meetings bill impeded by House

Votes on two bills connected to school boards by the House of Representatives yielded differently results this afternoon (Tuesday). Representatives voted 42-27 to pass House Bill 1087, which would allow school boards to “create, establish and supervise” a “sentinel” program that would arm staff, security or volunteers on school grounds. A lengthy debate preceded the vote with proponents arguing the

January28: Legistlative action from last week

House Bill 1113: A bill that would make digital text communication (i.e. email, text message, online conversations) an open record if it includes discussion of official business among a quorum of board members passed the House State Affairs committee by a 7-6 vote. The committee amended the bill to exclude the scheduling of meetings via digital communication official business.

January28: Upcoming committee dockets

Today’s House Education committee meeting features two bills proposing grant programs with dollars appropriated from the general fund. House Bill 1119 would establish a school-to-work grant program for students who may not pursue a secondary education. The bill would take $300,000 from the general fund for the program. House Bill 1133 would allocate an unspecified

January28: Grant bills deferred in vote

House Education committee members elected to defer two bills proposing K-12 grant programs to the 41st legislative day at this morning’s (Monday) bill hearings. House Bill 1119 would have established a school-to-work grant program using $300,000 from the general fund for students who may not pursue a secondary education. House Bill 1133 would have provided $500,000 to $1 million